Official Result: NSW Swifts drawn with Southern Steel

Official Result & Statistics

Official Result: NSW Swifts (59) drawn with Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel (59)

• Nervous wait for Swifts to decide Conference Finals placings

• Prolific Steel shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid nets 50 goals

• Steel midcourter Gina Crampton continues impressive season with MVP award

A tight match throughout produced a frantic final quarter which resulted in a 59-all draw between the NSW Swifts and Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel in Sydney on Saturday.

Searching for their first win in Sydney, the Steel controlled much of the second half but couldn’t quite deliver in front of a telling Swifts challenge in a thrilling trans-Tasman contest.

In the last round of the regular season, Steel, who topped the New Zealand Conference, kept their unbeaten record intact while the Swifts will have to wait until the The Coffee Club Queensland Firebirds and West Coast Fever clash before knowing whether they finish first or second in the Australian Conference.

Bursting out of the blocks quickly, the Swifts kept their noses in front during an accurate and defensively strong first quarter.

With goal attack Susan Pettitt given plenty of space to create opportunities in the attacking third and the Swifts defensive trio of Laura Langman, Maddy Turner and Sharni Layton keeping a tight rein. It was the home team who surged out to a five-goal advantage before closing out the quarter with a 16-13 lead.

Challenging everything, Layton continued her strong presence on the resumption before the Steel found their timing and rhythm with an impressive showing through the second stanza.

Midcourters Shannon Francois and Gina Crampton found their target of towering shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid with more accuracy while defenders Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and Jane Watson got their hands on more turnover ball for the visitors.

In the groove, prolific shooter Fowler-Reid made her presence felt, the Steel finishing with a late surge of four straight goals to leave the scores all tied up at 29-all at the main break.

Still on limited time after coming back from injury, Swifts captain Kimberlee Green was injected for Stephanie Woods for the second half but it was the visitors who stole an early march.

The Steel hit the ground running with a commanding start to the third stanza. A big defensive effort where Reo Selby-Rickit was prominent led to turnover opportunities which Fowler-Reid made no mistake of converting under the hoop to build a five-goal buffer.

Just as quickly, the Swifts came surging back, lifting their flow and accuracy on attack to get the game back on level terms. A goal on the stroke of three-quarter time gave the Steel a slim 45-44 lead at the last break.

Swifts Shooting Statistics
Caitlin Thwaites 29/31 (94%)
Susan Pettitt 30/32 (94%)

Steel Shooting Statistics
Jhaniele Fowler-Reid 50/52 (96%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit 9/12 (75%)

MVP: Gina Crampton (Steel)

ENDS

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